Automatic ice maker



PI'I 25, 1957 w. R. DONAHUE, JR I 3,315,483

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AUTOMATIC ICE MAKER Filed Feb. 14, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 United States Patent O 3,315,483 AUTOMATIC ICE MAKER William R. Donahue, Jr., Geneva, Ill., assignor to The Dole Valve Company, Morton Grove, 111., a corporation of Illinois Filed Feb. 14, 1966, Ser. No. 527,189 8 Claims. (Cl. 62-137) This invention relates generally to ice making apparatus and more particularly to an ice maker which utilizes exible trays of the type adapted to eject ice therefrom when the trays are inverted and twisted. A pair of gears or the like driving and driven members are mounted for relative rotational movement on a frame or housing upon which the trays are rotatably mounted and one of the gears is connected to the trays for imparting an inverting and twisting movement thereto.

The second gear is driven in an oscillatory rotatable manner by suitable electric power means and a cooperating pawl and shoulder arrangement is carried on the gears to provide a clutch mechanism -therebetween to drive the rst gear to which the trays are connected intermittently in response to the oscillatory -movement of the second gear. In addition, the pawl serves to operate a switch mechanism for the power means and a stop mechanism is provided in association with an ice collection sensing arrangement to render the pawl inoperative with respect to the shoulder and to the switch mechanism when a sullicient quantity of ice is collected within an ice collection basket disposed below the trays. Thus, when the ice collection tray tis filled not only is the electric power means inoperative, but a driving connection between the driver and driven gears is precluded regardless of rotation of the driver gear effected by any means.

The power means or element may comprise a temperature sensitive unit having a rectilinearly or translatorily telescopically extensible piston or plunger and an electric heater for heating the unit. Suitable linkage means are provided for translating the rectilinear movement of the piston into rotational movement of the second gear. An electric water flow valve is provided to control the lling of the trays and may also be actuated by the same switch mechanism which operates the power means.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide, an ice making apparatus employing trays of the type which eject ice therefrom upon rotation thereof, improved means for controlling the rotation of the trays.

Another object of the invention is to provide a clutch mechanism for connecting the power element to the trays and including a pair of relatively rotatable members togetherrcomprising a shoulder and a cooperable pa-wl movable into engagement with the shoulder for translating oscillatory rotatable movement of one of the rotatable members into intermittent rotational movement of the other of the rotatable members, and including an excessive ice collection sensing ymechanism and an associated stop mechanism for not only precluding engagement of the pawl with the shoulder but for moving the pawl away from the shoulder when a su'icient quantity of ice has been collected.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an independently actuable means for moving the pawl away from the shoulder regardless of the quantity of ice collected in the collection basket.

Many other features, advantages and additional objects of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description which follows and the accompanying sheets of drawings, in which preferred structural embodiments incorporating the principles of the present invention are shown by way of illustrative example only.

In the drawings:

FIGURE l is a front elevational view of an automatic ice cube maker constructed in accordance with the puinciples of the present invention and mounted for purposes of illustration in the freezing compartment of a household refrigerator;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along lines lI-II of FIGURE l with the ice trays removed for clarity and with mounting brackets for the ice trays shown in an upright position in full lines, one of the mounting brackets being shown in its tilted position in broken lines; j

FIGURE 3 is similar to FIGURE 2 but illustrates in broken lines the other of the mounting brackets in its inverted position;

FIGURE 4 is a side elevational view of the ice cube maker as viewed from the lefthand side of FIGURE 1 with the 'greater portion of an outer wall thereof cut away in order to show the relative disposition of parts when the ice tray mounting -brackets are positioned as shown in the full lines of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is similar to FIGURE 4 but shows the relative disposition of parts when the ice tray mounting brackets are positioned as shown in the broken lines of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of portions of the clutch mechanism and associated parts of the invention shown in the relative positions they assume during one phase of the operation of the ice cube maker;

FIGURE 7 is similar to FIGURE 6 but shows the relative disposition of the parts when the ice cube maker is in a different phase of its operation;

FIGURE 8 is a schematic diagram of exemplary electric circuitry of the invention; and

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged perspective view of the stop block which serves to move the pawl away from the shoulder in the clutch mechanism.

As shown in the drawings:

Although the principles of the present invention are applicable to any ice making apparatus a particularly useful application is made to an automatic ice cube maker in a household refrigerator. Thus, in the illustrated embodiment shown in FIGURE l an automatic ice cube maker, constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention, is indicated generally at reference numeral 10 and is shown mounted in a freezer compartment 11 of an exemplary household refrigerator 12.

Referring to FIGURES 2 and 3 in conjunction with FIGURE 1, the ice cube maker lll is more particularly characterized as comprising a three-sided frame or housing 13 and a rectangularly shaped casing 14 mounted on the frame at an open end 16 thereof. The casing 14 houses the operating or driving mechanism of the ice cube maker 10.

A pair of ice cube trays 17 and 18 are situated in aligned arrangement within the confines of the frame 13. Each' of the trays is supported at opposite ends thereof for rotation about its longitudinal axis by means of a pair of tray mounting brackets. For example, tray 18 is lixedly connected at one end thereof to a tray mounting bracket 19 which is, in turn, mounted for rotation on a small shaft or pin 29 which projects from an end plate 21 of the frame 13. An opposite end of the tray 18 is connected to a bracket identical to bracket 19 and is, in turn, mounted for corotation on a shaft 22 which extends through a back wall 23 of the casing 14.

The tray 17 is similarly mounted for rotation on a pair of tray mounting `brackets 24, 24 which are, in turn, respectively mounted on a pin 26 lwhich projects from the wall 21 of the frame 13 and a shaft 27 which extends through the wall 23 of the casing 14.

An ice collection basket 30 is disposed below the ice 'an operation that comprises the steps of first automatically filling one of the trays with water, then rotating the other Y tray to dump or eject ice cubes previously forrned therein Y into the ice collection basket, kthen filling said other tray with water, then rotating said one tray to dump Vthe ice cubes then formed therein, and then repeating the operation or cycle until the quantity of cubes in the collection basket, as' determined by an automatic collection sensing 'arrangement after each tray is dumped, is sufficient so that additional cubes are not required. Then the operation ceases until such time as enough cubes have been removed from the collection basket so that the sensing arrangement is effective to cause a resumption of the ice forming operation.

The mechanism for automatically and successively tilling the trays with water comprises a nozzle 32 positioned above the trays 17 and 18 and connected by means of a conduit 33 to a source of water. A solenoid operated water valve 34 is mounted in the conduit 33 and is adaptedV to supply Water to the trays in measured quantities.

r The water is directed from the nozzle 32Vto a stationary trough 36. an open lip 38 from -which the water flows to a forwardly downwardly inclined surface 39 of a swingable trough 40, which is positioned as illustrated in FIGURE 2 to fill the forward or upper ice tray 18. Alternately the water flows from the lip 31 to a backwardly downwardly inclined surface 41, 4positioned as shown in FIGURE 3, to fill the rear or lower tray 17.

VThe swingable trough 40 is mounted on an arm 42V which is, in turn, -pivotally mounted on the pin 22. The arm 42 is pivoted between the positions illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 3 by means of a sliding arm 43 guided for reciprocal rectilinear movement by means of a pair of U-shaped guide members 44 and 46 mounted on the wall 23 of the frame 13 and having extending from a protrusion 47 thereof a pin 48 which isV received in a slot 49 formed in the pivot arm 42.

Suitable abutment surfaces G and 51 are formed respectively on the tray mounting brackets 27 and 19 to engage opposite ends 52 and 53 of the slidable arm 43 to effect reciprocal back and forth movement of the arm 43 as theV mounting brackets 19 and 27 are successively turned or inverted.

The ice trays 17 and 18 may preferably be of the type which dislocate and eject ice cubes therefrom when they are turned and slightly ltwisted about their longitudinal axis. Such trays are known in the art and 'may be formed of ak plastic, flexible material such as high density or linear polyethylene or the like composition. It will be appreciated from the ensuing description of the invention, however, that other trays having different modes of dislocating the ice cubes therefrom can also be advantageously utilized.

As noted, much of the operating mechanism of the `invention resides within the casing 16, and referring to FIGURE 4, wherein the greater portion of an end wall 54 of the casing 14Y is cut away for purposes of clarity, it will be noted that pair of sector gears 56 and 57 are Vcorotatably mounted on shafts 27 and 22, respectively,

which in turn have mounted thereon on the other side of wall 54 one of the tray mounting brackets 24 and 19 of each of the trays 17 and 18.

The sector gears 56 and 57 each have a portion indicated respectively at 58 and 59 on which a series of gear teeth` are formed, each portion extending in an arc A lower end 37 of the trough 36 comprises of about 90. In the position of the sector gears 56 and 57 shown in FIGURE 4, wherein the teeth 58 are facing substantially upwardly and the teeth 59 are facing substantially downwardly, the shafts 22 and 27 are positioned such that the tray mounting brackets 19 and 24 are in 4 their normal or upright positions as shown in the full lines of both FIGURES 2 and 3. Y

In accordance with the invention suitable power means are provided foi alternately rotating sector gears 56 and 57 through the arc of the gear teeth formed thereon,

Vand correspondingly for rotating their respective shafts 27 and 22, in order to tilt or invert the ice trays 17 and 18, and in the illustrated embodiment such power meansV comprises a temperature sensitive power unit or elementV indicated generally at 60 having a telescopically extensible` piston or pin member 61 which projects outwardly fromk a retracted position thereof as shown in FIGURE 4 to an extended position as shown in FIGURE 5 upon the'application of heat to the power element 60. Y

The power element 60 is fixedly connected to the wall 23 of the casing 14 and also mounted Von .wall 26 is a flat elongated guide member 62 which extends in parallel relation to the axis of the power unit 60 and which has a longitudinally extending track means or groove 63 formed therein for guiding the movement of a Vrectilinearly slidable bracket 64.

An axially adjustable threaded plug 66 is' mounted on the sliding bracket 64 in concentric alignment with the pin or plunger 61 of the power element 60 for ad-V of the plug 66 is maintained in abutting engagement withY Y an. end wall 68 of the piston 61 and for this purpose a coil spring 69 having a relatively high k factor is bot tomed at one end thereof as at 70 against a shoulder 71 of the sliding bracket 64, and is bottomed at an opposite end thereof at 72 against a flange 73 lixedly mounted on the casing wall 23.

The temperature sensitive power element 60 is of a type well known in the art and includes a temperature sensitive portion 74, a collar 76 anda guide portion 77 in addition to the telescopically extensible piston 61. Suitable heating means which, in the illustrative'embodiment, comprises a heater coil 78, is wrapped around the temperature sensitive portion 74 and when the coil 78 is electrically energized or otherwise heated, the plunger 61 will move gradually outwardly from its retracted position Vas shown in FIGURE 4 to its extended position as shown in FIGURE 5. The sliding or follower bracket 64 follows the movement lof the plunger 61, and upon de-energization of the coil 78 and Ithe attendant cooling of the temperature sensitive portion 74, the plunger will gradually retract to its position as shown in FIG- URE 4 due to the biasing effect of the spring 69.

As shown in FIGURE 5, apin 79 is xedly mounted on a lower portion 80 of the sliding bracket 64 and has pivotally mounted thereon at one end thereof a linkage arm 81. The other end of arm 81 is pivotally mounted on another pin 82 which is mounted in fixed assembly on a driver member 83 which in turn is mounted for free rotation on a shaft S4 supported on the walls 23 and 54 of the casing 14.

The drive member 83 has a radially outwardly ex-VV tending groove or channel 86 formed therein which receives in sliding relation a pawl member 87 which is biasedradially outwardly in the channel 86 by means of a helical spring 88. Y

As the plunger 61 moves from its retractedV position as shown in FIGURE 4 to its extended position as shown f that a substantial portion of the drive member 83 is housed therewithin.

Along an outer peripheral wall 92 of the driven member or gear 89 are formed various sets of gear teeth for engaging and driving the sector gears 56 and 57. As shown in FIGURE 6, some of the gear teeth as at 93 are formed adjacent one radial end 94 of the outer peripheral wall 92, and in the same arc in which the teeth 93 are formed the opposite side of the wall 92 adjacent a radial end wall 96 thereof is blank or void of gear teeth.

Another set of gear teeth 97 is formed on the outer peripheral wall 92 and extend circumferentially in an arc adjacent the arc in which the gear teeth 93 are formed, and it will be noted in conjunction with teeth 97 that the side of the wall 92 adjacent the radial end wall 94 thereof is blank, while the teeth 87 are in this instance formed along the radial end wall 96 of the wall 92.

Referring again to FIGURE 4, the sector gears 56 and 57 are normally maintained in the positions shown by means of suitable biasing members which, exemplary embodiments of which comprise respectively a torsion spring 98 wound about the shaft 27 and connected at opposite ends thereof to the shaft and to the sector gear 56, and a tension spring 99 connected at one end thereof to the sector gear 57 and at an opposite end thereof to the casing wall 23.

The planes in which gear teeth 58 and 59 of sector gears 56 and 57 are arranged with respect to the planes in which the gear teeth 93 and 97 of the driven member 89 reside are such that sector gear 56 will mesh with the gear teeth 93 of the driven member 89 but not teeth 97, and sector gear 57 will mesh with the teeth 97, but will not mesh with the teeth 93.

Referring again to FIGURE 5, the peripheral wall 91 of the driven member 89 comprises a plurality of circumferential segmental portions each of which comprises a circular span or section 100 which merges with a radially inwardly inclined section or ramp 101 which terminates at a radially extending shoulder surface 102.

In FIGURE 6 it will be noted that each of the shoulders 102 also forms an end wall of a recess formed in the radial end -wall 94 of the driven member 89. Each of the recesses is also bounded by another wall 103, which is spaced circumferentially with respect to wall 102, and a radially extending back wall 104.

The drive member 83 and the pawl 87 comprise a clutch mechanism for translating reciprocal rectilinear movement of the follower bracket 64 into intermittent rotational movement ofthe multi-faced gear or driven member 89. For this reason the pawl 87 comprises a pillar or abutment column 106 against which one end of the spring 88 bottoms. A radially outwardly facing wall 107 of the pawl 87 is positioned to slidingly engage the inner peripheral wall 91 of the driven member 89, and to be guided in radial movement thereby. Another wall of the pawl, a radially extending side wall 108, is shaped complementarily to the shoulder surfaces 92.

Referring to FIGURE 4, when the electric coil 78 is de-energized and the power element 60 is cooled and the plunger 61 has moved to its retracted position as illustrated, the follower bracket 64 is situated in its rightward position as shown in the ligure, and the radial wall 108 of the pawl 87 is in abutting engagement with one of the shoulder surfaces 92 located at the bottom portion of the driven member 89.

Subsequently, upon energization of the coil 78, as the piston 61 moves outwardly to its extended position as illustrated in FIGURE 5, the follower bracket 64 is moved leftwardly, whereupon the drive member 83 is rotated approximately 90 in a counterclockwise direction. As a result, the gear 89 is also rotated through the same arc by the pawl 87.

As the gear 89 is rotated counterclockwise the gear teeth 97 formed thereon engage and mesh with the gear teeth 59 of the sector gear 57 and rotate gear 57 clockwise for about 90 to tilt and twist the ice tray 18, whereupon the ice is dumped therefrom. The teeth 97 are arranged so as to extend in an arc which is less than the arc through which the gear 89 rotates. As a consequence, after all of the teeth 59 have meshed with corresponding teeth 97 of the driven member 89, they are then exposed to a blank portion of member 89, upon the happening of which the sector gear 57 immediately springs back to its normal position as viewed in FIGURE 4, returning the ice tray 18 to its normal or upright position.

As the power unit 60 cools upon de-energization of the coil 78, and the piston 61 is retracted, the follower bracket 64 moves rightwardly, whereupon the drive member 83 is rotated in a clockwise direction. During such clockwise rotation the pawl 87, the radial wall 107 of which is urged against the inner peripheral wall 91 of the gear 89 by the spring 88, is guided iirst by a circular section 100 of the wall 91, and then by a radially inwardly inclined ramp 101 thereof until the radial wall 108 lof the pawl 87 is moved back again to snap into abutment with another shoulder 92. During this clockwise rotation of the driver member 33 the driven member 89 remains stationary.

The next time the coil 78 is energized, and the drive member 83 is again rotated approximately 90 counterclockwise, the gear teeth 93 of the driven member 89 will engage the teeth 58 of the sector gear 56 to tilt and twist ice tray 17, the sector gear 57 and the ice tray 18` being maintained in a normal or upright position during this phase of the operation. It is noted that each time the coil 78 is energized the plunger 61 moves to its extended position, and then the coil is de-energized and the plunger retracted, the driven member 89 has been rotated approximately 90 in a counterclockwise direction and one of the ice trays has been tilted and dumped.

Referring to FGURE 8, the electric heating coil 78 is connected in an electric circuit 105 to a pair of contacts 109 and 110 for connection to a source of electric power. The circuitry comprises a safety switch 115 and an electric operating switch 111 having a pair of contacts 112 and 113 disposed normally in an open position by the inherent resiliency of an electrically conductive arm spring 114. The solenoid operated water valve 34 is connected in parallel with the heating coil 78.

Referring to FIGURES 4, 6 and 7, the electric switch 111 is actuated by the pawl 87 and it is noted that the spring arm 114 which mounts the contact 113 is positioned adjacent the axial end wall 94 of the driven member 89. The arm 114 also has formed thereon a radial wall 116 and an inclined wall 117. A top wall 118 of the pawl 87 extends circumferentially a distance greater than the circumferential distance between the shoulder 102 and the wall 103 of the driven member 89, so as to effectively span the respective recesses 105 in the end wall 94 of the driven member 89.

The switch 111 including the resilient arm 114 are xedly mounted on the wall 54 of the casing 14, and the radial wall 116 of the arm 114 is adapted to move downwardly adjacent a shoulder surface 102 into a recess 105 due to the inherent bias of the arm 114 as it comes into register with a recess. As a consequence contact 113 is normally open, or is situated in spaced-apart relation with respect to contact 112.

However, after the power unit 60 cools after having been heated and as the driver member 83 and the pawl 87 are rotated clockwise with respect to the driven member 89, and particularly when the pawl 87 passes a shoulder 92 and is moved radially outwardly by the spring 88 (such action of the pawl 87 occurring upon complete retraction of the plunger 61) the sloping wall 118 of the pawl 87 engages the inclined wall 117 of the arm 114 to move contact 113 into abutting engagement with contact 112. The heater coil 78 is thus again energized.

After coil 78 is energized to heat the power element 60, the driver member 83, along with the pawl 87 and the driven member 89, begin to move corotatably counterclockwise. The contacts 112 and 113 remain closed,

the pawl rotates past the radial wall 117, whereupon wall 117 engages the axial end wall 94 of the driven member 89 to prevent movement of the arm 114 and to maintain Y the contacts 112 and 113 in a closed relation.

After the driver member 83 and the driven member 89 have rotated approximately 90k another shoulder 102 and recess 105 move into alignment with the radial wall 117 of the arm 114, whereupon wall 117 is urged downwardly into the recess 105 by the inherent resiliency of the arm 114, thereby opening contacts 112 and 113 to deenergize the'heating coil 78.

As the power element 60 cools and'piston 61 thereof retracts, the driver member 83 as Well as the pawl 87 will again rotate clockwise, and as the wall 108 of the pawl passes the shoulder 92 which has moved into position adjacent the radial wall 117 of the arm 114, the pawl is then urged radially outwardlyby the spring 88, thereupon engaging'arm 114 to once again close contacts 112 and 113 to energize the heating coil 78.

Thus the ice forming cycle, whereupon each of the ice trays 17 and 18 is alternately filled with water and then tilted or inverted to dump the ice therefrom, is a normally continually operating process.

In order to prevent an excess accumulation f ice cubes in the collection basketV 30 (FIGURE 1) the present invention contemplates means for sensing such excess accumulation and for discontinuing the ice forming opera- Vtion until a suicient quantity of cubeshave been removed from the basket 30.

In FIGUREl is shown an elongated rod or sensing arm 119 which extends from the casing 14 between the top of the collection basket 3i) andthe ice trays 17 and 18 and is pivotally mounted on the casing 14 to traverse across the top of basket 30 in a sweeping action after each of the ice trays has dumped, and in the event that the sensing arm 119 engages ice cubes projecting from the top of basket 30 suitable means indicated generally at reference numeral 115`are provided in association there with to de-activate the ice forming operation.

In FIGURE 4 the mechanism 115 which cooperates with the arm 119 to de-activate the ice forming operation upon the accumulation of a sufficient quantity of ice cubes Yis shown Yin phantom lines in the normal position which has completely retracted it assumes after Vthe piston 61 upon cooling of the power unit 60, and the sensing arm 119 has not impinged ice cubes projecting upwardly out V of the collection basket 30 and thus extends from the rear Vend portion of the casing 14 at an angle forwardly across the top of the basket 30.

In the same figure, mechanism 115 is shown in solid lines in the position which it assumes when the piston 61 Vhas completely retracted, but the sensing arm 119 has impinged ice cubes as it begins to sweep across the top of basket 30, and thus extends from the rear end portion of the casing 14 substantially parallel to a back wall 137 of the frame 13 across the rear of frame 13.

For convenience of description the reference numerals ,which indicate the component parts of mechanism 115 will be directed tothe solid line illustration thereof, although it is again noted that the solid lines illustrate the positions of the parts when a suicient quantity of cubes have already been collected in the basket 30 and the ice cube forming operation has been de-activated.

As shown, the sensing arm 119 extends through an aperture 120 formed in the wall 23 of the casing 14. Arm 119 is bent slightly at 121 and then extends upwardly at 122. An inturned ear 123 is formed at the end vof portion 122 and is received in and extends through a slot 124 formed in a rocker arm 126. The ear 123 is maintained means of a spring member 127. The rocker arm 126 is mounted for pivotal movement on a shaft 128 and is also pivotally connected by means *Y stationarily with respect to the slot 124, however, by Y '8 of a pin 129 to a sliding cam member 130. The cam member 130 is characterized as comprising a slot 131 which is sized to receive the shaft 84 on which the driver member 83 and the driven member 89 are mounted.V AlsoV formed in the cam member 130 is a second slot bounded on one side thereof by a first cam surface 132 which leads to a second cam surface 133. An opening 134 adjacentV Vfrom the casing 14 and substantially diametrically across Y the top of the collection basketV 30, that is, from a rear corner on one side of the basket to a front corner on anY opposite side of the basket.

When the heating coil 78 is energized and the driver gear 83 begins its counterclockwise rotation, the protuberance or projection 136 formed thereon engages the cam surface 133 of the cam member 130 and begins toV urge the cam member 130 rightwardly as viewed inYIIG- URE 4 (to the position thereof as seen in full lines). Such rightward movement of the cam member 130 is effective to rotate'the rocker arm 126 counterclockwise through a given arc to pivot the sensing arm 119 such that it thereupon extends substantially parallel to a rear edge 137 of the casing 14 and along the back wall of the collection basket 30.

Continued rotation of the driver member 83 moves the projection 136 into engagement with the cam surface 132, but it will be noted that in this position of the cam member 130, the cam surface 132 is concentrically arranged with respect to the shaft 84, thereby precluding further rightward movement of the cam member 130. Y

After the heating coil 78 is de-energized and the driver member 83 begins its clockwise rotation, the cam member 130 will again be moved leftwardly as viewed in FIG- the basket 30 when the respective ice trays are inverted to dump the ice cubes therefrom (as well as when the arm 119 is held in this position by impingement with ice cubes), and gradually sweeps forwardly over the top of the collection Vbasket 30 as the power element 60 cools and the driver member 83 slowly rotates in a clockwiseY direction. H

In order to de-'activate the ice cube forming process when a suicient quantity of ice cubes have been collected in the basket 30,'the rnechanismrllS includes means for precluding the closing of electric c0ntacts-112 and 113 and for precluding engagement of the radial wall V108 of the pawl 87 with a shoulder surface 102 in the event that the sensing arm 119 `is not able to completely traverse the top of the collection basket 30 due to the interruption of the sweeping movement thereof by the projection of the ice cubes above the top of the collection basket.

InV order to perform this function a stop blockV 139 is mounted in fixed assembly on astop flange 140 which in turn is Vpivotally mounted on the cam member or bracket in turn, is rotatably mounted on a pin 148 which projects from the wall 23 of the casing 14. In addition, the locking ange 147 is biased for rotation in a clockwise direction by means of a torsion spring 149.

During an ice forming operation when the driver member 83 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction and the bracket or cam member 130 is moved rightwardly as shown in solid lines in FIGURE 4, the outturned projection 142 of the stop flange 140 abuts an end wall 150 of the slot 143, thereby causing the stop block 139 and the stop flange 140 to pivot slightly in a counterclockwise direction. Such counterclockwise rotation of the stop liange 140 brings the cooperating shoulder surfaces 144 and 146 of the stop ange 140 and the locking ange 147, respectively, into engagement with one another, thus locking the stop block 139 in the position shown in full lines.

Upon subsequent clockwise rotation of the driver member 83 and a corresponding leftward movement of the cam member or bracket 130 (assuming that the movement of the sensing arm 119 has not been impeded by an undue collection of ice in the basket 30) alower end 151 of the locking ange 147 is moved into abutting enga-gement with a pin 152 which protrudes inwardly from a manually swingable locking arm 153, thus rocking the locking liange 147 in a counterclockwise direction, thereby releasing the stop ange 140 and permitting it to pivot in a clockwise direction.

In the event that a full sweeping movement of the sensing arm 119 has been impeded, however, the bracket 130 will not move leftwardly from the position thereof shown in full lines to the position thereof shown in phantom lines, and the locking flange 147 will not release the stop flange 140 and the stop block 139. The stop block will thus be maintained in the position thereof shown in the full lines. Y

When the stop block is held in the position thereof shown in full -lines it is disposed in the path of travel of the column 106 of the pawl 87 as the pawl rotates clockwise to mate with a shoulder 102 of the driven member 89. 'Ihus the pawl 87 is prevented from moving radially outwardly to engage a shoulder 102 of the driven member 89 and to close the electric contacts 112 and 113. Thus the ice forming process is de-activated. f

Referring to FIGURE 9, the stop block 139 is more particularly characterized as comprising a radially inwardly facing wall 154 and a radially inwardly inclined ramp 156 leading to the lwall 154. When the stop block is maintained in the position thereof shown in full lines in FIGURE 4, a radially outwardly facing wall 157 (FIG- URES and 6) of the pawl column 106 engages the ramp 156 and is actually urged radially inwardly to the wall 154. Thus, engagement of the radial wall 108 of the pawl 87 with a shoulder 102 of the driven member 89 is positively prevented.

An important advantage of this arrangement, whereby the pawl is actually moved radially inwardly or away from the shoulder 102 in the event that excessive ice has collected in the basket 30 is to prevent undesirable rotation of the driven member 89 in the event that the ambient air temperature surrounding the power unit 60 is suiiicient to warm the unit and thus rotate the driver member 83 in a counterclockwise direction without electrical energization of the heating coil 78. Since the pawl is positively moved away from the shoulder 102, an increase in the temperature of the air surrounding the power unit 60 will have no effect in causing an operational counterclockwise rotation of the driven member 89.

Referring again to FIGURE 4, the manually operated arm 153 also aiords manual means for de-activating the ice-forming operation regardless of an increase in temperature ambient the thermally sensitive power element 60. Such manual means may be utilized, for example, when the ice making apparatus is to be shut down for a period of time. Accordingly, the arm 153 is pivotally mounted on a shaft 154 whereby the pin 152 formed thereon can be rotated upwardly out of the path of travel of the lower portion 151 of the locking flange 147. It is noted that the leftward facing wall of the locking ange 147 extends inwardly as at 156, and a manual rotation of the arm 153 in a counterclockwise direction will effectively move the pin 152 out of the path of the toe 151 of thelocking flange 147. Thus, even if there is not a collection of ice in the basket 30 suliicient to impede movement of the cam member 130, the locking flange 147 still will not release the stop ange and the stop block 139 will remain in the path of travel of the column 106 of the pawl 87 to prevent the pawl from moving radially outwardly to engage a shoulder 102 of the driven member 89.

Although minor modifications might be suggested by those versed in the art, it should be understood that I wish to embody within the scope of the patent warranted hereon all such modifications as reasonably come within the scope of my contribution to the art.

I claim:

1. -In an automatic ice cube maker having a housing, au ice cube tray rotatably mounted on the housing, a driver member and a driven member both rotatably mounted on the housing with the driven member being operatively connected to the ice tray for corotation therewith, an electrically operated power element connected to the driver member for effecting oscillatory rotatable movement thereof, a radial shoulder and an inclined ramp leading to the shoulder formed on one of said rotatable members, a radially movable pawl mounted for corotation on the other of said rotatable members, means biasing the pawl radially against the ramp for radial guidance of the pawl by the ramp through a path of travel into engagement with the shoulder upon rotation of the driver member in one direction of rotation and for maintaining the pawl in engagement with the shoulder to rotate the driven member with the driver member upon rotation of the driver member in an opposite direction of rotation, the improvement comprising,

stop means movable into the path of travel of said pawl for moving said pawl radially inwardly away from said shoulder upon rotation of said driver member and said pawl in said one direction of rotation to prevent engagement of the pawl with the shoulder.

2. The automatic ice cube maker as defined in claim 1 and including,

independently actuable means cooperable with said stop means for maintaining said stop means in the path of travel of said pawl.

3. The automatic ice cube maker as defined in claim 1 and including,

an ice cube collection basket disposed below said ice cube tray for collecting ice cubes received from the tray, and

independently actuable means cooperable with said stop means for maintaining said stop means in the path of travel of said pawl as a function of the level of the ice cubes in said collection basket.

4. An automatic ice cube maker comprising,

a housing having an ice cube tray rotatably mounted thereon, and means for rotating said tray comprising,

a driver member and a driven member both rotatably mounted on said housing,

said driven member being operatively connected to said ice tray for corotation therewith,

an electrically operated power element connected to said driver member for effecting oscillatory rotatable movement to said driver member,

a radial shoulder and `an inclined ramp leading to said shoulder formed on one of said rotatable members,

a radially movable pawl mounted `for corotation on the other of said'rotatable members,

means biasing said pawl radially against said ramp for'radial guidance of the pawl Yby said ramp into engagement with said shoulder upon rotation and for maintaining said pawl in engagement with said shoulder to rotate the driven member with the driver member upon rotation of said driver member in an opposite direction of rotation, Y

ice collection sensing means mounted on said housing and movable between first and second positions thereof,

means biasing said sensing means toward the iirst s position thereof,

said driver member being engageable with said sensing means for moving said'sensing means to the second position thereof upon rotation of said driver member in said opposite direction of rotation,

a stop block mounted on said sensing means for radial movement relative to said pawl between a first position for abutting said pawl and thereby preventing radial movement of said pawl into engagement with said shoulder and a second position for releasing said pawl for radial movement thereof,

means biasing said stop block toward the second position thereof,

means associated with said sensing means for moving said stop block from said first to said second position thereof upon movement of said sensing means from said iirst position to the second position thereof.

5. The ice cube maker `as defined in claim 4 wherein said radial shoulder and said inclined ramp are formedron said driven member and said pawl is mounted on said driver member, and including Y switch means for electrically connecting said power elements to a source of electric power,

said switch Vmeans being closed to energize said power element upon engagement thereof by said pawl as said pawl is moved radially to engage said shoulder.

6. The ice cube maker as deiined in claim 4 and includa protuberance, having a radially outwardly facing wall,

i formed on said pawl,

said stop block having a radially inwardly facing wall fformed thereon andV a radially inwardly inclined ramp leading to -its wall for engaging the wall of said protuberance and for guiding said pawl radially inwardly away from said shoulder when saidV stop block is in said first position thereof and said pawl is rotated in said one direction of rotation toward said shoulder.

7. yThe ice cube maker as defined in claim 4 wherein said signal sensing'means comprises,

a sensing arm pivotally mounted on said housing for detecting an excessive collection of ice cubes under said trays, Y

-a cam member mounted for translatory movement on said housing and connected to said sensing arm for imparting pivotal movement thereto in response to translatory movement thereof,

said cam member having a cam surface formed thereon engageable with said driver member whereby said cam mem-ber' is moved translatorily in one direction when said driver member is rotated in said one direction thereof and said cam member is moved translatorily in an opposite direction when said 'driver member is rotated in said opposite direction thereof, and in.- cluding a stop flange extending from said stop block,

means mounting said stop flange on said cam member` for pivotal movement relative to said cam member and for translatory movement with said cam member,

an outturined projection formed on said stop iiange, and Y 8. The ice cube maker as dened in claimv4 and includ-Y ing,

independently actuable ymeans for locking said stop block in said first position thereof when said sensing means is in both iirst and second positions thereof.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,188,827 6/1965 Bauerlein 62-137 3,286,478 11/1966 Chace et a1. r 62-135 ROBERT A. OLEARY,'Prmary Examnen Y WILLIAM E. WAYNER, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN AN AUTOMATIC ICE CUBE MAKER HAVING A HOUSING, AN ICE CUBE TRAY ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON THE HOUSING, A DRIVER MEMBER AND A DRIVEN MEMBER BOTH ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON THE HOUSING WITH THE DRIVEN MEMBER BEING OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO THE ICE TRAY FOR COROTATION THEREWITH, AN ELECTRICALLY OPERATED POWER ELEMENT CONNECTED TO THE DRIVER MEMBER FOR EFFECTING OSCILLATORY ROTATABLE MOVEMENT THEREOF, A RADIAL SHOULDER AND AN INCLINED RAMP LEADING TO THE SHOULDER FORMED ON ONE OF SAID ROTATABLE MEMBERS, A RADIALLY MOVABLE PAWL MOUNTED FOR COROTATION ON THE OTHER OF SAID ROTATABLE MEMBERS, MEANS BIASING THE PAWL RADIALLY AGAINST THE RAMP FOR RADIAL GUIDANCE OF THE PAWL BY THE RAMP THROUGH A PATH OF TRAVELP INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH THE SHOULDER UPON ROTATION OF THE DRIVER MEMBER IN ONE DIRECTION OF ROTATION AND FOR MAINTAINING THE PAWL IN ENGAGEMENT WITH THE SHOULDER TO ROTATE THE DRIVEN MEMBER WITH THE DRIVER MEMBER UPON ROTATION OF THE DRIVER MEMBER IN AN OPPOSITE DIRECTION OF ROTATION, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING, STOP MEANS MOVABLE INTO THE PATH OF TRAVEL OF SAID PAWL FOR MOVING SAID PAWL RADIALLY INWARDLY AWAY FROM SAID SHOULDER UPON ROTATIONK OF SAID DRIVER MEMBER AND SAID PAWL IN SAID ONE DIRECTION OF ROTATION TO PREVENT ENGAGEMENT OF THE PAWL WITH THE SHOULDER. 